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Inorganic Chemistry Jun 2024Three novel bismuth-organic compounds, with the general formula [Bi(HPDC)(PDC)]·(arene)·2HO (HPDC = 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid; arene = pyrene, naphthalene, and...
Three novel bismuth-organic compounds, with the general formula [Bi(HPDC)(PDC)]·(arene)·2HO (HPDC = 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid; arene = pyrene, naphthalene, and azulene), that consist of neutral dinuclear Bi-pyridinedicarboxylate complexes and outer coordination sphere arene molecules were synthesized and structurally characterized. The structures of all three phases exhibit strong π-π stacking interactions between the Bi-bound PDC/HPDC and outer sphere organic molecules; these interactions effectively sandwich the arene molecules between bismuth complexes and thereby prevent molecular vibrations. Upon UV irradiation, the compounds containing pyrene and naphthalene displayed red and green emission, respectively, with quantum yields of 1.3(2) and 30.8(4)%. The emission was found to originate from the T → S transition of the corresponding arene and result in phosphorescence characteristic of the arene employed. By comparison, the azulene-containing compound displayed very weak blue-purple phosphorescence of unknown origin and is a rare example of T → S emission from azulene. The pyrene- and naphthalene-containing compounds both display radioluminescence, with intensities of 11 and 38% relative to bismuth germanate, respectively. Collectively, these results provide further insights into the structure-property relationships that underpin luminescence from Bi-based materials and highlight the utility of Bi-organic molecules in the realization of organic emission.
PubMed: 38823026
DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.4c00606 -
Environmental Science and Pollution... Jun 2024Classical monitoring of air pollution provides information on environmental quality but involves high costs. An alternative to this method is the use of bioindicators....
Classical monitoring of air pollution provides information on environmental quality but involves high costs. An alternative to this method is the use of bioindicators. The purpose of our work was to evaluate atmospheric aerosol pollution by selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons conducted as part of annual active biomonitoring ("moss-bag" technique) with the use of three moss species: Pleurozium schreberi, Sphagnum fallax, and Dicranum polysetum. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was utilized to determine certain 13 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Three seasonal variations in PAH concentrations have been observed as a result of the study. A fire on the toilet paper plant caused an increase of five new compounds: benzo(k)fluoranthene (BkF), benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), indeno(1.2.3)-cd_pyrene (IP), dibenzo(a.h)anthracene (Dah), and benzo(g.h.i)perylene (Bghi) in proximity after 8 months of exposure compared to previous months. The effect of meteorological conditions on the deposition of PAHs (mainly wind direction) in mosses was confirmed by principal component analysis (PCA). Dicranum polysetum moss accumulated on average 26.5% more PAHs than the other species, which allows considering its broader use in active biomonitoring. The "moss-bag" technique demonstrates its feasibility in assessing the source of PAH air pollution in a long-term study. It is recommended to use this biological method as a valuable tool in air quality monitoring.
Topics: Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; Biological Monitoring; Bryophyta; Air Pollutants; Environmental Monitoring; Air Pollution; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Seasons
PubMed: 38802616
DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-33831-8 -
Frontiers in Nutrition 2024Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are environmental contaminants that can be found in various food products, including those intended for infants. Due to their...
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are environmental contaminants that can be found in various food products, including those intended for infants. Due to their potential health risks, it is crucial to develop sensitive analytical methods for the accurate determination of PAHs in infant foods. This study describes the development and validation of a highly sensitive method for the quantification of European PAH markers, namely benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[a]anthracene, chrysene, and benzo[b]fluoranthene, using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS), in baby food samples. The first step was the optimization of the sample preparation procedure, performed using different methods based on the QuEChERS approach, also testing different extraction solvents. Several factors such as extraction efficiency, selectivity, and recovery were evaluated to choose the most effective procedure for sample preparation. Furthermore, the GC-MS/MS method was optimized, evaluating parameters such as linearity, sensitivity, accuracy, and robustness using spiked infant food samples. The method demonstrated excellent linearities with a correlation coefficient higher than 0.999 over a wide concentration range, and limits of detection and limits of quantification in the range 0.019-0.036 μg/kg and 0.06-0.11 μg/kg, respectively. Extraction recoveries were between 73.1 and 110.7%, with relative standard deviations always lower than 8%. These findings are compliant with the indications of the European Commission (Reg. 836/2011). To assess the applicability of the method to official control activities, a survey was conducted on commercially available infant food products. Four markers were determined in commercial samples belonging to different food categories for infants and young children. The outcome of this monitoring showed that PAH contamination, in all samples, was below the quantification limits. In conclusion, the developed GC-MS/MS method provides a highly sensitive and reliable approach for the determination of PAHs in baby foods. The optimized sample preparation, instrumental parameters, and validation results ensure accurate quantification of 4 PAHs even at trace levels. This method could contribute to the assessment of PAH exposure in infants and it could support regulatory efforts to ensure the safety and quality of infant food products with regular monitoring.
PubMed: 38798769
DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1403541 -
Microorganisms May 2024Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) cause serious stress to biological health and the soil environment as persistent pollutants. Despite the wide use of biochar in...
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) cause serious stress to biological health and the soil environment as persistent pollutants. Despite the wide use of biochar in promoting soil improvement, the mechanism of biochar removing soil PAHs through rhizosphere effect in the process of phytoremediation remain uncertain. In this study, the regulation of soil niche and microbial degradation strategies under plants and biochar were explored by analyzing the effects of plants and biochar on microbial community composition, soil metabolism and enzyme activity in the process of PAH degradation. The combination of plants and biochar significantly increased the removal of phenanthrene (6.10%), pyrene (11.50%), benzo[a]pyrene (106.02%) and PAHs (27.10%) when compared with natural attenuation, and significantly increased the removal of benzo[a]pyrene (34.51%) and PAHs (5.96%) when compared with phytoremediation. Compared with phytoremediation, the combination of plants and biochar significantly increased soil nutrient availability, enhanced soil enzyme activity (urease and catalase), improved soil microbial carbon metabolism and amino acid metabolism, thereby benefiting microbial resistance to PAH stress. In addition, the activity of soil enzymes (dehydrogenase, polyphenol oxidase and laccase) and the expression of genes involved in the degradation and microorganisms (, , and ) were up-regulated through the combined action of plants and biochar. In view of the aforementioned results, the combined application of plants and biochar can enhance the degradation of PAHs and alleviate the stress of PAH on soil microorganisms.
PubMed: 38792797
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12050968 -
Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024The affinity between carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and organic compounds is of substantial importance since it strongly relates to the dispersibility of CNTs in those...
The affinity between carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and organic compounds is of substantial importance since it strongly relates to the dispersibility of CNTs in those compounds. Several affinity evaluation methods have been developed so far, and the concept of the Hansen solubility parameter is a representative method widely used in the field of nanocarbon materials. Here, we demonstrate that CNT-loaded silica columns can effectively assess the affinity of organic compounds for CNT surface by exploiting the chromatographic retention time as a criterion. Obtained trends of the affinity of organic compounds for CNT were compared to those based on Hansen solubility parameter distance values. Most organic compounds showed similar trends, but one exceptional compound was observed. Simple CNT dispersion tests were conducted with these organic compounds to demonstrate the advantage of the chromatographic assessment. Further, we conducted comparison experiments using a pyrene-functionalized column and other CNT-loaded columns to elucidate the characteristics of each CNT column. The chromatographic approaches using CNT columns would be beneficial for realizing CNT suspensions with improved CNT dispersibility.
PubMed: 38786781
DOI: 10.3390/nano14100824 -
Scientific Reports May 2024Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are highly toxic, carcinogenic substances. On soils contaminated with PAHs, crop cultivation, animal husbandry and even the...
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are highly toxic, carcinogenic substances. On soils contaminated with PAHs, crop cultivation, animal husbandry and even the survival of microflora in the soil are greatly perturbed, depending on the degree of contamination. Most microorganisms cannot tolerate PAH-contaminated soils, however, some microbial strains can adapt to these harsh conditions and survive on contaminated soils. Analysis of the metagenomes of contaminated environmental samples may lead to discovery of PAH-degrading enzymes suitable for green biotechnology methodologies ranging from biocatalysis to pollution control. In the present study, our goal was to apply a metagenomic data search to identify efficient novel enzymes in remediation of PAH-contaminated soils. The metagenomic hits were further analyzed using a set of bioinformatics tools to select protein sequences predicted to encode well-folded soluble enzymes. Three novel enzymes (two dioxygenases and one peroxidase) were cloned and used in soil remediation microcosms experiments. The experimental design of the present study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of the novel enzymes on short-term PAH degradation in the soil microcosmos model. The novel enzymes were found to be efficient for degradation of naphthalene and phenanthrene. Adding the inorganic oxidant CaO further increased the degrading potential of the novel enzymes for anthracene and pyrene. We conclude that metagenome mining paired with bioinformatic predictions, structural modelling and functional assays constitutes a powerful approach towards novel enzymes for soil remediation.
Topics: Metagenomics; Biodegradation, Environmental; Soil Microbiology; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; Soil Pollutants; Soil; Dioxygenases; Phenanthrenes; Naphthalenes; Metagenome
PubMed: 38773163
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61566-6 -
Environment International Jun 2024Endocrine disruptors are compounds of manmade origin able to interfere with the endocrine system and constitute an important environmental concern. Indeed, detrimental...
INTRODUCTION
Endocrine disruptors are compounds of manmade origin able to interfere with the endocrine system and constitute an important environmental concern. Indeed, detrimental effects on thyroid physiology and functioning have been described. Differences exist in the susceptibility of human sexes to the incidence of thyroid disorders, like autoimmune diseases or cancer.
METHODS
To study how different hormonal environments impact the thyroid response to endocrine disruptors, we exposed human embryonic stem cell-derived thyroid organoids to physiological concentrations of sex hormones resembling the serum levels of human females post-ovulation or males of reproductive age for three days. Afterwards, we added 10 µM benzo[a]pyrene or PCB153 for 24 h and analyzed the transcriptome changes via single-cell RNA sequencing with differential gene expression and gene ontology analysis.
RESULTS
The sex hormones receptors genes AR, ESR1, ESR2 and PGR were expressed at low levels. Among the thyroid markers, only TG resulted downregulated by benzo[a]pyrene or benzo[a]pyrene with the "male" hormones mix. Both hormone mixtures and benzo[a]pyrene alone upregulated ribosomal genes and genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation, while their combination decreased the expression compared to benzo[a]pyrene alone. The "male" mix and benzo[a]pyrene, alone or in combination, upregulated genes involved in lipid transport and metabolism (APOA1, APOC3, APOA4, FABP1, FABP2, FABP6). The combination of "male" hormones and benzo[a]pyrene induced also genes involved in inflammation and NFkB targets. Benzo[a]pyrene upregulated CYP1A1, CYP1B1 and NQO1 irrespective of the hormonal context. The induction was stronger in the "female" mix. Benzo[a]pyrene alone upregulated genes involved in cell cycle regulation, response to reactive oxygen species and apoptosis. PCB153 had a modest effect in presence of "male" hormones, while we did not observe any changes with the "female" mix.
CONCLUSION
This work shows how single cell transcriptomics can be applied to selectively study the in vitro effects of endocrine disrupters and their interaction with different hormonal contexts.
Topics: Humans; Benzo(a)pyrene; Polychlorinated Biphenyls; Endocrine Disruptors; Transcriptome; Gonadal Steroid Hormones; Thyroid Gland; Female; Male; Single-Cell Analysis; Human Embryonic Stem Cells
PubMed: 38763096
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108748 -
Aquatic Toxicology (Amsterdam,... Jul 2024Microplastics are ubiquitous environmental pollutants frequently detected in aquatic environments. Here we used the Atlantic salmon epithelial gill cell line (ASG-10) to...
Microplastics are ubiquitous environmental pollutants frequently detected in aquatic environments. Here we used the Atlantic salmon epithelial gill cell line (ASG-10) to investigate the uptake and effects of polystyrene (PS) microplastic. The ASG-10 cell line has phagocytotic/endocytic capacities and can take up clear PS particles at 0.2 and 1.0 µm, while PS at 10 µm was not taken up. As a response to the uptake, the ASG-10 cells increased their lysosomal activity. Furthermore, no effects on the mitochondria were found, neither on the mitochondrial membrane potential nor the mitochondria morphology (branch length and diameter). Interestingly, even a very high concentration of PS (200 µg/ml) with all tested particle sizes had no effects on cell viability or cell cycle. The environmental toxin Benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P), a known inducer of CYP1A, is highly hydrophobic and thus sticks to the PS particles. However, co-exposure of B(a)P and PS the particles did not increase the induction of CYP1A activity compared to B(a)P alone. Our study contributes to the understanding of the cellular effects of PS particles using a highly relevant Atlantic salmon gill epithelium in vitro model.
Topics: Animals; Gills; Salmo salar; Microplastics; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Epithelial Cells; Cell Line; Polystyrenes; Benzo(a)pyrene; Cell Survival; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial; Mitochondria
PubMed: 38759525
DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2024.106946 -
RSC Advances May 2024Induced lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP) by peptide self-assembly has emerged as an effective platform for lysosome-targeted cancer therapy. In this study, we...
Induced lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP) by peptide self-assembly has emerged as an effective platform for lysosome-targeted cancer therapy. In this study, we shift this strategical paradigm and present an innovative approach to LMP induction through amino acid-based self-assembly. Pyrene-capped tyrosine (Py-Tyr), as a proof-of-concept molecule, is designed with acidity-responsive self-assembly. Under acidic conditions (pH 4), Py-Tyr is protonated with reduced charge repulsion, and self-assembles into micrometer-scaled aggregates, which exceed the biological size of lysosomes. Cell experiments showed that Py-Tyr specifically accumulates in lysosomes and induces lysosome rupture, leading to the release of cathepsin B into the cytoplasm for subsequent apoptosis activation in cancer cells. This study capitalizes on the concept of amino acid assembly for efficient LMP induction, providing a simple and versatile platform for precise and effective therapeutic interventions in cancer therapy.
PubMed: 38756853
DOI: 10.1039/d4ra01328j -
American Journal of Men's Health 2024The aim of this study was to investigate the potential mechanism through which Yishen Tongluo decoction (YSTL) repairs DNA damage caused by benzo(a)pyrene diol epoxide...
The aim of this study was to investigate the potential mechanism through which Yishen Tongluo decoction (YSTL) repairs DNA damage caused by benzo(a)pyrene diol epoxide (BPDE) in mouse spermatocytes (GC-2). The GC-2 cells were divided randomly into the control group, BPDE group, and low-, medium-, and high-dose YSTL groups of YSTL decoction. A comet assay was used to detect the DNA fragment index (DFI) of cells in each group. Based on the DFI results, whole transcriptome sequencing was conducted, followed by trend analysis, gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis, kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis, and ceRNA network analysis. Compared with the control group, the BPDE group reported a significant increase in the DNA fragmentation index (DFI) ( < .05). Compared with the BPDE group, the low-, high- and medium-dose YSTL groups had a significantly reduced DFI ( < .05). Whole-transcriptome sequencing revealed seven differentially expressed circRNAs, 203 differentially expressed miRNAs, and 3,662 differentially expressed mRNAs between the control group and the BPDE group. There was a total of 12 differentially expressed circRNAs, 204 miRNAs, and 2150 mRNAs between the BPDE group and the traditional Chinese medicine group. The pathways involved include DNA repair pathway, nucleotide excision repair pathway, base excision repair pathway, etc. The ceRNA network reported that Hmga2 was the core protein involved, novel_cir_000117 and mmu-miR-466c-3p were located upstream of Hmga2, and they were regulatory factors associated with Hmga2. Finally, we conclude that YSTL decoction may repair sperm DNA damage caused by BPDE through the novel_cir_000117-mmu-miR-466c-3p-Hmga2 pathway.
Topics: Animals; Male; Mice; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; DNA Damage; DNA Repair; Spermatogonia; Transcriptome
PubMed: 38725193
DOI: 10.1177/15579883241246908